90039 Dentist

Your smile is one of the first things a person will notice when you meet.  If you would like to improve your smile with a simple procedure, teeth whitening may be a great option for you, especially if you have stained, dull or discolored teeth. Our dental office is providing teeth whitening services to new and existing patients.

Regardless of how well you care for your teeth, over time, discoloration will occur.  The main causes of stained teeth are genetics, antibiotics, tobacco and certain foods. As we age, our teeth darken as well. While preventing tooth discoloration is nearly impossible, our experienced team can help reverse the effects of discoloration by helping to create a whiter and brighter smile.

Whether it’s an in-office treatment or at-home treatment, the principles of teeth whitening are the same.  A special whitening agent is applied to the teeth in order to bleach stains and brighten your smile. Our expert dentist in 90039 will discuss your whitening needs and goals with you to determine which option is best for you.

In-office teeth whitening is the quickest method to a brighter, whiter smile.  With the supervision of an experienced dental professional, a stronger bleaching solution can be used than with at-home kits. Optimal results are achieved much faster with the professional whitening treatment, and in many ways the results are much better given the nature of the bleaching agents that are used. On average, patients find they appear up to ten years younger just by restoring the bright, white smile of their youth.

During a professional teeth whitening treatment, we will first clean the teeth.  They will apply a whitening agent to your teeth, carefully avoiding your gums and soft tissue.  Once applied, a laser light will be directed at the teeth to expedite the process.  For maximum results, the process may be repeated more than once.

If a visit to our office for professional whitening isn’t an option for you, at-home treatment may provide the whitening you need. While you will find a vast variety of at-home teeth whitening products on the market, including whitening toothpastes, over-the-counter gels, rinses, strips, trays and more, we can fit you with custom-made whitening trays that will more accurately fit to your teeth for a more even whitening result.

At-home teeth whitening results are less dramatic compared to those achieved at the dentist. While at-home teeth whitening is easy to use, it is not recommended if your teeth or gums are sensitive.  If you are looking to brighten your smile and look ten years younger, contact our dental office in Los Angeles, CA for more information or to schedule a consultation today.

Silverlake Dental Group
Phone: (323) 922-6016
2390 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Dentist Silver Lake Los Angeles CA

As a parent, the best way to help ensure your child has a lifetime of healthy teeth is to help them establish great dental hygiene habits as they grow.

Here are some useful tips from our dentist in 90039 for keeping your child engaged by making dental hygiene fun:

Pick out a special toothbrush.

One great way to keep your child excited about brushing is to allow him or her to choose their own toothbrush in a favorite color or branded with a favorite cartoon character. Child-size soft-bristled brushes come in a wide variety of options designed to make your child like their toothbrush.

Choose children’s toothpaste.

Another great option is to use a toothpaste that is designed for kids. While adults generally prefer the fresh mouth taste of a minty toothpaste, many children find mint to be too powerful a flavor. This can make brushing unpleasant or even painful to sensitive taste buds. Instead, let your child choose a children’s toothpaste. There are many options available in a variety of soft mint, fruity, and bubble gum flavors. It is much easier to keep your child brushing for a full two minutes when their toothpaste tastes good.

Use a timer.

Two minutes can seem like a long time to a child. It can be very difficult for your child to try to estimate or count how long to brush without some kind of visual aid. You can help your child stay more engaged and ensure a full two minutes of brushing by using a timer. Choices range from a small sand timer your child can flip over, to a manual stopwatch with buttons to press, or even an app on a phone or tablet to time digitally (if your child is old enough). By letting your child take control of the timer, they can be more confident and more engaged in their brushing.

Brush together.

A parent is the first and strongest role model for their child. Brushing together can help your child model your great brushing technique, which will improve their own. Additionally, brushing together emphasizes to your child that brushing is important. When your child sees that you take dental hygiene seriously, they are likely to follow suit.

For more tips on making dental hygiene fun for your child, contact our dental office in Los Angeles, CA.

Silverlake Dental Group
Phone: (323) 922-6016
2390 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
90039 dentist

Over 45% of U.S. adults have moderate to severe periodontal disease. Periodontal disease ranges from a mild inflammation of the gum tissues to periodontitis, a major oral disease that can result in soft tissue and bone damage and even tooth loss.  Our experienced dentist in 90039 is providing periodontal treatments to both new and existing patients who are suffering from any form of periodontal (gum) disease.

One of the major causes of gum disease is practicing poor oral hygiene habits. Daily brushing and flossing and regular professional exams and cleanings are essential to maintaining optimal oral health. When these practices are not followed, plaque can form on the teeth and along the gumline. If this plaque is not properly removed, it may harden over time and become tartar. Once that occurs, only a dental professional can remove tartar from teeth.

If gum disease is not treated in a timely manner, tartar may continue to build. When this occurs, the gum disease may advance. Gums redden, swell, and become prone to bleeding from normal activities, such as brushing or eating. At this point, professional periodontal treatment is needed to prevent the disease from advancing further.

When periodontal disease is not treated in a timely manner, it may become periodontitis. Periodontitis is the most advanced form of periodontal disease. With periodontitis, gums begin to pull away from the teeth, creating small “pockets” along the gum line. These spaces are highly difficult to clean without professional intervention and can lead to rapid worsening in overall oral health. Without prompt and thorough treatment, bone, gums, and soft tissues may be destroyed by periodontitis. One of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults is periodontal disease.

Some of the most common factors that contribute to periodontal disease developing include poor oral hygiene habits, diabetes, smoking, and female hormonal changes. Some medications can cause gum tissue to develop abnormal tissues, which can increase difficulty in proper cleaning of the teeth. People who are receiving treatment for AIDS are also at increased risk of developing periodontal disease.

Our doctor has the training and experience to diagnose and treat every stage of periodontal disease. If you have symptoms of periodontal disease, contact our office to schedule a consultation. Some symptoms include: chronic halitosis (bad breath), sensitive teeth, red or swollen gums, sensitive or bleeding gums, and difficulty or pain with chewing. Our dentist provides excellent periodontal care for our patients, and welcomes new patient consultations. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact our dental office in Los Angeles, CA.

Silverlake Dental Group
Phone: (323) 922-6016
2390 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Dentist 90039

If you have inflammation in your mouth or gums it may be time to consult with a Periodontist. Gum disease is one of the most common disease patients face today. This condition must be treated promptly to avoid receding gums, or even tooth loss. Attending regular visits to our office can help to prevent gum disease and get in front of any issues with your gums or teeth before they become worse. At Silverlake Dental Group, we provide many periodontal treatment services for our patients including scaling and root planing in Los Angeles, CA.

If you have had previous treatment for gum disease, you may have had great results, and your gums have improved or stopped bleeding. Once you have suffered from gum disease, it is important to keep up with your oral hygiene and gum treatments, because gum bleeding and disease can reoccur. Brushing and flossing around the gums carefully at home help continue to keep your teeth and gum free of disease.

How Do I Care for My Gums and Prevent Gum Disease from Returning?

Routine dental cleanings and periodontal treatment help to get rid of plaque and bacteria that cause gum disease to return or get worse. Scaling and root planing is a great technique to remove plaque and tarter, and also helps to smooth out the surface of your gums. This procedure shrinks periodontal pockets to prevent future bacteria from entering the area. Dr. Josh Barkhordar, our dentist in Los Angeles, CA recommend patients come in for their regular dental exams twice a year, and for periodontal treatment at least once a year.

Keeping up with good oral hygiene is the most important part of preventing gum disease. Dr. Barkhordar recommends patients brush twice a day, and floss once a day. If you keep up with your oral hygiene you can reverse gum disease, and never have to deal with painful bleeding gums again. Attending your regular dental exams can help keep an eye on any developing periodontal pockets, and stop gum disease in its tracks.

Staying on top of your general health is also important. This includes avoiding alcohol or smoking, and staying away from sugary drinks. Taking care of both your oral and general health is imperative, to ensure your teeth and gums will last you a lifetime.

Our team at Silverlake Dental Group provides a detailed consultation process to examine your teeth and gums and determine if you can benefit from periodontal treatment. Our creates a customized treatment plan to help restore your gums and teeth and keep any signs of inflammation or gum disease from progressing further.

Looking for Gum Disease Treatment Near You?

Choosing the best option is important, and our team at Silverlake Dental Group is here to help give you all of the options available to achieve that bright white smile. We welcome all patients, and strive to always provide quality service our patients can count on.

If you are interested in finding out more about gum disease treatments in Los Angeles, CA, please contact Dr. Barkhordar to schedule your consultation.

Dentist 90039

As a continuation of the Dental Health in Patients with Disabilities discussion, this post is meant to discuss how the most common diseases can and should be treated or prevented.

Dental care protocol in special patients

Dental care for patients with disabilities requires special techniques, equipment, and trained personnel. In some cases, it is necessary to sedate them to perform a treatment. However, general anesthesia is used only when it is not possible to control the person in another way.

The protocol to care for a person with disabilities begins by discussing the patient’s conditions before the visit. The dentist must understand the patient’s condition and the type of treatment required to determine what he will need at the time of care. Communication with the person in charge and the attending physician is essential to know if the patient needs to take any medication before the consultation. On the other hand, the dentist will need to work with an assistant to help reassure him. When treating patients with special abilities, treatments may take longer than usual. All this should be discussed prior to the consultation. In cases in which the patient does not collaborate with the dentist’s attention, the dentist has to use special methods, such as:

Dentist 90039

Behavior Rectification

In the dental management of patients with disabilities, positive reinforcement is used to shape behavior. That is, they are rewarded if they follow the instructions given by the dentist.

Physical restraint

It consists in restricting the total or partial mobility of the patient. In this way, the dentist can work without problems and prevents the person from an injury. Usually limb movement is limited, but sometimes the head and the body are also restricted. To use this method, the consent of the patients responsible is necessary.

Prescribe medication before treatment

When the patient suffers from anxiety or stress at the dentist’s office, some medication can be prescribed to calm him.

Home care

Oral health care starts from home, so you have to follow a hygiene routine. A responsible guardian should take care of brushing their teeth regularly. If it is not possible, then whoever is in charge should do so. Babies have to clean the gums with a wet gauze and start brushing them with a soft brush when the first teeth appear. To prevent the appearance of caries, avoid eating foods with sugars.

Moreover, you have to choose a toothbrush that is adapted and easy to hold, either by the patient or the person in charge. Toothpaste, on the other hand, must have fluoride and be antibacterial. The use of mouthwash is also recommended. It is important to follow the dentist’s instructions and ask any questions you have regarding the patient’s oral hygiene. Following these recommendations, you can take care of dental health in patients with disabilities. In their condition, they need a lot of help and communication so they can show off their best smile and as responsible members of the society, we should all take care of our disable brothers and sisters to the best of our efforts.